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PIA News Service - Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Members of GADCC answer queries of the media during the press conference held this afternoon, November 25, 2008 at the conference room of Butuan City Hall. The presscon was called by GADCC in time with the kick-off activity marking the opening of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women. (Jennifer P. Gaitano, PIA-Caraga)

Caraga GADCC kicks-off 18-day campaign to end violence vs women

BUTUAN CITY (November 25) – The Regional Development Council (RDC) of Caraga, through the Gender and Development Coordinating Committee (GADCC) spearheads the opening of the 18-day campaign to end violence against women in a “Walk for a Cause” signifying the official opening of the activity.

As early as 5:00 this morning (November 25), stakeholders from the private and public sectors gathered around the provincial capitol grounds of Agusan del Norte. 30 minutes after, the “Walk for a Cause” started passing along the city’s only mall and heading towards the Butuan City Hall.

When the group arrived at the city hall, the opening ceremony was held with some of the women personalities of the city and the region giving their messages and insights of the activity.

Meanwhile, a press conference was held this afternoon at the Conference Room of Butuan City Hall with selected members of the GADCC attended as panelists. Among them are Atty. Marilyn Pintor, GADCC Chairperson and Commission on Human Rights (CHR)-Caraga Regional Director; NEDA-Caraga Regional Director Carmencita Cochingco who is also the acting RDC Chairperson; Aldeberan Mordeno, chief of the City Social Welfare and Development Office; PSupt. Cristita dela Cruz, GAD focal person of PNP-Caraga; Atty. Edgar Balansag of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) and Atty. Ruth Sanchez of the Office of the Regional State Prosecutor.

The 18-day campaign is a commemorative event marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (VAW) today (November 25), the International Human Rights Day on December 10, and the Signing of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime including the Protocol to prevent, suppress, and punish trafficking in persons especially women and children on December 12, 2008 – which is also the culmination of the campaign.

GADCC is an affiliate committee of RDC whose main task is to take the lead in all gender and development-related efforts. The committee is also expected to perform policy and decision-making functions for gender and development mainstreaming and is envisioned to assist the RDC in its coordinating, monitoring and evaluating functions. It also coordinates the integration of gender concerns and issues in short and long-term plans, local and regional development plans, investment programs, physical framework plans and special development plans.

This year’s activity is anchored on the theme “CEDAW ng Bayan: ReMOVE VAW!” CEDAW stands for Convention on the Elimination all forms of Discrimination Against Women.

MOVE on the other hand means Men Opposed to Violence Everywhere. This increases men’s comfort with seeing themselves as responsible, caring, and non-violent partners. (Robert E. Roperos, PIA-Caraga)

DepEd-Butuan hosts Caraga Regional Science Fair and Quiz

BUTUAN CITY (November 25) – The Department of Education (DepEd) Butuan City Division recently hosted the 2008 Caraga Regional Science Fair held at Agusan National High School, this city.

During the press conference held at the school’s newly-constructed Amphitheater, regional winners of the Science Olympics and Quiz Bee meet the press and shared their experience from the time of their preparations until they were proclaimed regional winners in the different categories.

In the Quiz Bee, Jerson Bernados of Jagupit National High School in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte recalled the sleepless nights he and his coach, Mr. Jonivil Vidal had for the review and researches they made in preparation for the regional competition.

“My coach and I have made valuable efforts in doing researches and reviews which are the keys to my success. Being this year’s regional champion, although it’s a pressure on my part knowing that I will be representing Caraga in the national finals, I will really do everything I can to give honor and pride to our region”, Bernados said.

Meanwhile, Jasmin Plaza of Bunyasan National High School of Surigao del Norte Division also shared the experience they have with her teammates as they won the grand prize in the Weightlifting competition.

According to Plaza, the only strategy which she and her teammates applied is teamwork and practice. “Practice makes perfect and this best describes the reason of our victory”, she said.

Meanwhile, Wilver Bacug of the host school – Agusan National High School informs the local media of the techniques that his group has applied that made them won in the Physics Motion Category.

Bacug recalled that during the competition, they were required to make a toy parachute that will carry a raw egg. The parachute was dropped in a ten-meter high and the team whose egg was not broken, was declared winner. This, according to Bacug, also required analysis and teamwork among the members of the team.

Although there is no competition of the Science Olympics in the national level, but with the skills shown by the competitors, it is a clear manifestation that students of today’s generation will play important roles in strengthening science and technology not only in the region, but of the country as well. (Robert E. Roperos, PIA-Caraga)